Micah's B-day & 2 Camping Trips

Micah's Birthday Celebration

On Monday evening, May 18th, we celebrated Micah's birthday. (His actual birthday was Friday the 22nd.) We were getting ready to go camping the next day, so I made it simple. Micah chose doughnuts instead of cake. I let the kids get popsicles from the ice cream man instead of ice-cream. Pizza for dinner of course! (We still have a party w/ extended family coming up.) Happy birthday, Micah John! I can't believe you're already 7! I'm so very proud of you & I love you so much it hurts.

Camping trip #1: May 19th-21st; Arrow Rock (area), Idaho

Chew with your mouth closed, Micah!

Big muscles.

A present for me.

The sun was setting all around us, but hadn't set on the hill behind us. Looks like it's glowing.

Cozy by the fire.

Titus noticing that his hands are (GASP!) dirty.

Playing ball with daddy.

Camping trip #2: May 25th-28th; Silver Creek, Idaho

Titus considering that it might be fun to get wet & dirty

My big ol' manly out-door stud.

One of the cutest fishermen I've ever seen

There's some more of them.

Jarod & Seth both caught little ones they had to throw back. But that was more than Justin caught. Poor big ol' manly out-door stud.

YEAH, TITUS!!! You got DIRTY!!! Go ahead.......put your hands in too.

STEP 1: WASH

STEP 2: RINSE

One afternoon, during camping trip #2, we went out to play in the water & go for a walk. There were a few funny incidents. Of course I didn't have my camera. Telling you about them just isn't the same as being there.........or at least seeing pics. But, I have to try.

First, we walked up a path that went along a stream in the woods. We came to some small water falls & decided to let the kids play. Seth, the mischievous booger that he is, threw a stick for Scout (one of our doggies) over the edge of one water fall. She dove after it, being the brave (or mentally challenged) soul that SHE is. It was kind of deep at the bottom & she could NOT climb back up. (Um.....Scout.......you can't climb WATER!!!) But watching her try was pretty funny/sad. Seth had to go over & pull her back up. I really don't know why she didn't just keep floating down a couple feet & climb out where there was only like 2 inches of water........but........OK....

A couple minutes later, Gideon was filling his little pitcher in the water. He was bending over a little too far & fell in head first. It wasn't too deep (though deeper than HE expected!!) & he got himself out. He said quickly, "I'm OK!" But then he lowered his head, hunched his shoulders & marched over to where I was standing (trying to catch my breath from all that laughing I was doing.......). He wouldn't look at me, so I put my finger under his chin. I turned his head up so I could look at his face & see if he was alright (& to apologize for laughing at him instead of saving his life). He looked up at me from under his eyebrows & muttered angrily, "I did NOT mean to do that!" That did nothing to help me catch my breath. He didn't panic or get scared. He just got mad at himself for falling in. I suppose this isn't translating into "hilarious" the way I want it to. Parents always think their kids are funnier than others do. However, it was one of the funniest things I've personally seen in a while. Four year olds are such a riot..........especially Gideon. I REALLY wish you could have seen it.

When we returned from our walk, to the main part of the river, Micah decided to wade across. It wasn't deep, but it was moving pretty fast. He had a life jacket AND a floaty on. He still went down.........slowly. The water WAS shallow. It was like watching someone in a movie who is hanging from a short cliff. They think that the ground is a mile underneath them when, in actuality, it is only an inch below their dangling feet. In his panic, Micah thought he was going to drown. His too-large hat fell over his eyes as he struggled to stay up. With his arms flailing wildly in the air & his hat covering his face..........his dad & I did what all good parents would do: we stood laughing so hard we couldn't move. Jarod had to rescue him. *Sigh* I wish you'd seen it. Yes, I know I'm a bad mother. I did hug & comfort him when I was done laughing at him. Well, technically that's not true. I was still laughing at him while I hugged & comforted him.

Spot where Micah fell in.

Spot where Gideon fell in.

Waterfall Scout got stuck in.

Two of my favorite men giving me flowers.

Both camping trips were a really nice time of bonding for all of us, in spite of the near drowning experiences & bad parenting. The boys got to fish & shoot & play ball with their daddy. We sang songs around the campfire at night, told stories, practiced memory verses & spent time in prayer. I didn't want to come home. However.........I did miss my shower & my big soft bed.

I LOVE JUSTIN & other fun stuff...........

A tribute to Justin: the man of my dreams & love of my life.

Last Sunday, Mother's Day, Justin did something really sweet for me. It may seem like a pretty basic thing to some of you. He & the boys gave me flowers & cards. What's the big deal about that? Well, we were on our way out to the car for church. As I was rushing around, trying to do all of my last minute things, all of my handsome men came walking back in through the front door they had just gone out of. I had thought they were outside, waiting for me in the car. Each of them handed me a rose & said "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. We love you." They each kissed me on the cheek (which is an INCREDIBLY rare thing for some of them now-a-days!). They presented me with cards. One was from the boys, one was from Justin. The boys' card thanked me for always making sure their undies are clean. Justin gave me a bouquet of roses. His card boasted of his contribution to my ability to BE a mother to all these boys! :-) This simple gesture was one of the most touching things that has ever been done for me (maybe only a little less touching than the gift of couches I received from certain family members for my birthday last year!!! ;-). My husband was teaching his sons to honor & love their mother.........and he was honoring me. And they all did it together. Of course, I cried.

Sometimes Justin comes across as rough & insensitive. Maybe sometimes he IS rough & insensitive. And he hates it when I blow his cover & prove otherwise! But too bad. I love that man. I may feel sorry for myself at times when he doesn't say all the words I want to hear or write me mushy poems. Some of you know about that book called The 5 Love Languages. Mine love language is ALL five of them really (poor Justin!). His is simply........"acts of service". And does he ever SERVE! He works so hard to support his family. He works all day at his job, then he comes home & works on selling E bay stuff. He fixes everything that ever gets broken in this house (and that is a LOT with six boys destroying everything they touch!). He takes care of our yard & fixes our cars. He even fixed the little radio nobby in my van before my trip to Seattle in November, which I also thought was so sweet. He does many things to help his mother & sisters. On Wednesday this week he helped his sisters move for the 2nd time this year & has helped them some in setting up their new place. True.........he often gets paid for helping them. But I know, without a doubt, that he would do it for free!!! It's how he shows his love for his family. And he shows his love for me by helping me with laundry, making me dinner frequently, making me a cup of coffee, giving me back rubs...........pretty much doing most anything I ever ask him to do (except for buying that truck........don't get me started!!! ;-). He is a loving father. No man ever loved his kids more. He has started reading The Hobbit to them......again. Daddy-wrestle time is the boys' favorite thing to do in the world. I just don't know what I would ever do with out this man................or what all his boys would do without him. Seth says that his daddy is his hero. Nope, he's not perfect (despite HIS insisting that he IS! :-)...................but he's MY hero too. (BTW......He has bought me cards & flowers many times before. It's just the WAY he did it this time that was so special.) I love Justin!!!!!!!!Stuff the boys made for me, plus cards & flowers.

See? Acts of service!!! He's helping me not spill on the baby! :-)

Did that hurt so bad, honey?

MY PARENTS came to visit this week from Monday through Friday. It was a wonderful time of them spoiling us all rotten, trying to make up for missed birthdays & Christmas. I miss them already. Love you, Mom & Dad!